Wednesday 13 June 2012

Comic Names You Should Know: Kevin Conroy!




Kevin Conroy IS Batman.  You should take my word for it.  I shouldn't have to write much more, but I will.

If you grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series every day like I did, Kevin Conroy shouldn't be unknown to you, unless you're the type that just likes watching things and ignoring the talent behind it.  If that's the case, well, it's time to give credit where credit is due.


As mentioned, Conroy got the role for Bruce Wayne/Batman starting with Batman: The Animated Series beginning in 1992, but then followed the character into The New Batman Adventures, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and played an aged Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond (though this show aired in real-time before JL & JLU).  He voiced Batman in the animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.  He also voiced Batman's cameo appearances in Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock, and The Zeta Project.  Further, he voiced Batman in the video games The Adventures of Batman & RobinBatman: Vengeance, and Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu.  All of these appearances as Batman are within the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), making them all within the same continuity.  For a bunch of cartoons, that's awesome, and it's a testament to his dedication to the character.

Watch Conroy go double-time here as Batman meets an elderly Bruce Wayne in Justice League Unlimited:




But enough praise.  So I enjoyed a cartoon as a kid - I'm obviously biased.  Wrong, mon frere.

Check out Conroy's Batman chops on imdb.com - Conroy has voiced Batman in over 25 separate shows/movies/video games, in various Batman tales.  Outside of the DCAU, the demand from fanboys to continue to see Conroy portray Batman had Conroy voicing Batman in comic book adaptation DTV features such as Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, and Justice League: Doom.

Outside of his prevalence in animation, perhaps Conroy is best known for his recent voice-acting work as Batman in DC Universe Online, or more likely, in the critically-acclaimed and best-selling games Batman: Arkham Asylum and its sequel, Batman: Arkham City.

What's the best way to indicate WB feels Kevin Conroy is the superior Batman?  Make a DTV feature bridging Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, and have Conroy voice Batman instead of Christian Bale.  This feature is called Batman: Gotham Knight.  In fact, to rub it in, here's a video of Conroy and his disapproval of Bale's "rawr rawr rawr I'm Batman" voice:


What really made Conroy's depiction of Batman different than other past interpretations is the fact that Batman and Bruce Wayne have different voices (a concept Conroy came up with and implemented himself).  There's a definite distinction between the brooding tone of Batman and the light-hearted billionaire playboy.


It's because of Conroy's talent and dedication to the character (having first voiced Batman in 1992, twenty years ago) that comic book readers, myself included, hear Conroy's voice when Bruce Wayne/Batman carry dialogue.

Go on Netflix, rent an animated movie, or pick up your game controller - if it says "Batman" on it, it's likely Conroy you're going to hear.  If that's the case, you're in for a treat.  I'll leave you with one of his most iconic lines as the Caped Crusader:

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